Course Description
This course will focus on contemporary issues in U.S. Employment Law. Students will study and analyze major employment laws, regulations, and legal doctrine affecting the workplace, including: the non-contractual employment relationship, equal employment opportunity, discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour laws, Family and Medical Leave, OSHA safety and health regulations, employee privacy and surveillance protections, and employer termination and post-termination responsibilities. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Define the types of employment relationships and their impact on company and managerial responsibility
- Apply Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations to facts in various employment situations.
- Explain legal requirements related to recruitment and selection including multiple forms of discrimination.
- Examine issues related to on-the-job treatment of employees including policy content and progressive discipline.
- Analyze regulations of wages and time off in the workplace and the effect on policies and business decisions.
- Evaluate issues of surveillance, privacy, and employer access to personal information along with consequences of non-compliance.
- Describe employers' legal responsibility for ensuring a safe working environment.
- Evaluate methods of terminating the employment relationship while mitigating liability and other damages.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 40% |
Comparative Analysis Paper (Week 1) | 7.5% |
Case Study: Down on the Tomato Farm (Week 2) | 7.5% |
Case Study: Office Romances (Week 3) | 7.5% |
Reflection Paper: FMLA (Week 4) | 7.5% |
Case Study: Blogging at Work and at Home (Week 5) | 7.5% |
Case Study: Joe Falls Off a Ladder (Week 6) | 7.5% |
Application Paper: Confidentiality (Week 7) | 7.5% |
Final Summary Paper (Week 8) | 7.5% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
- This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are at little or no cost for students. All course materials are provided in the course.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,2 | Topic: The Employment Relationship
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2 | 2,3 | Topics: Recruiting & Hiring
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3 | 2,3 | Topic: Workplace Discrimination
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4 | 2,5 | Topics: Wages, Overtime, and Time Off
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5 | 2,6 | Topics: Employee Privacy & Surveillance
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6 | 2,7 | Topics:Workplace Safety & Health
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7 | 2,4 | Topic: Managing Employee Performance
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8 | 2,8 | Topic: Terminating the Employment Relationship
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11092022
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.